Riders Field – Frisco College Baseball Classic
- Terry McCutchen
- Jun 7
- 6 min read
Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43
Riders Field 7300 Rough Riders Trail Frisco, TX 75034
Year Opened: 2003
Capacity: 10,216
The Riders of Frisco
Frisco, Texas is a booming suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in north Texas. As home to the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys, Major League Soccer’s FC Dallas, Dude Perfect’s New Theme Park, and the PGA Tour’s new corporate facility, as well as many museums and numerous shopping options, Frisco has become a destination city, especially for sports enthusiasts.
The Frisco Classic, managed by PEAK Events, is a pre-season NCAA Division I baseball tournament featuring top collegiate teams from around the country. The tournament began in 2017 and was the first of 4 similar tournaments hosted by PEAK Management. The teams typically consist of SEC, Big 12, Big 10 and ACC members, with quality regional Group of 5 teams invited as well. Many teams who have played in Frisco have gone on to experience post-season success in super regionals, as well as qualify for the College World Series.
Being held in the Double A facility of the Frisco RoughRiders, the games have a big time feel even though they are early in the non-conference schedule. Schools are treated to a well-run event played on a top-notch playing surface in front of large crowds, usually in good weather; many coaches have stated this is an early peek at the requirements to be successful if their teams qualify for post-season play.
Food & Beverage 4
There are 16 unique food and beverage vendors, each serving different menu options. Each individual concession stand offers different items and is named in such a manner that the flavor profile of the food is obvious. For example, El Rincon and Rojo’s serves Mexican-inspired dishes, Coop and Kennel and Frank’s serve hot dogs and chicken dishes, and The Sweet Spot serves ice cream dishes.
There are also three separate bar areas where mixed drinks are offered in addition to beer. All of these areas are enclosed, with air conditioning and TVs showing live action of the game.
During most of the 2025 tournament, some of the specialty vendors were closed for games with smaller crowds, namely Frisco Philly’s and Donato’s Pizza. All the concessions were open for the Saturday night game between LSU and Nebraska, however, which drew a stadium record crowd of 11,003.
Atmosphere 5
With a seating capacity of a little over 10,000, the atmosphere is fully dependent on the schools playing, which is part of the reason that organizers attempt to schedule highly ranked teams from Power 4 conferences, most notably the SEC and Big 12, plus a regional Group of 5 team that will provide a solid fan base.
The 2025 version of the Classic included LSU, Nebraska, Kansas State, and Sam Houston State University, the latter from Huntsville, Texas. Nebraska fans are famous for following the Cornhuskers nationwide, while Kansas State and Sam Houston State both have fairly large alumni numbers in the DFW metroplex. The fanbase that impacted the atmosphere the most, however, was the purple and gold clad faithful of the LSU Tigers – they came out in record numbers and created the feeling that these games were actually in Alex Box Stadium (the Huskers home up north) when their favored 9 took the field. On Saturday night, in fact, the record crowd was so large and rowdy that it reportedly consumed all the stadium's alcohol supply, requiring organizers to have more beer delivered for Sunday’s games.
Neighborhood 4
Rider Field is located in Frisco, Texas, a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. It’s nestled in a bustling shopping district and destination mecca near the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway and State Highway 121.
There are plenty of hotels to choose from within walking distance of the ballpark including the Embassy Suites-Frisco (which is attached to the ballpark), Hilton Garden Inn-Frisco, Hyatt House Dallas-Frisco, and Tru by Hilton Inn-Frisco, among others. In fact, the accommodations within a few minutes’ drive to the ballpark include nearly all price points and amenity levels.
When looking for dining options outside the facility, the choices within a short drive are virtually endless. One can easily walk to Wild Pitch Sports Bar and Grill, Perry’s Steakhouse, Norma’s Cafe, Rodeo Goat, or Gloria’s Cantina among others.
Fans 5
Attendance at the tournament is dependent on multiple factors, mainly the teams involved and the weather. The odds of playable weather conditions in late February in North Texas are high, but periodically rain or cold temperatures will dampen fan desire to attend the event. In the brief history of the event, attendance has averaged around 7,000 per day.
The tournament organizers attempt to select major college teams, ideally those with solid local fan bases and quality baseball programs, which helps to produce large crowds for the tournament. Teams from northern areas are looking for southern games early in the season, so their participation is solid, while regional regulars such as Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and Arizona have used the classic as early season road tests to gauge where their teams rank in relation to the rest of the nation. The larger schools will have fans who travel to Frisco to attend the tournament, plus there are always numerous alumni of these institutions who call the DFW area home, who take advantage of the opportunity to see their teams in action so close to home.
Access 5
Located just off the intersection of Dallas North Tollway and State Highway 121 and less than 30 miles from both Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport, Rider Field is easily accessible no matter which airline is chosen by out-of-town travelers.
Other than normal traffic in a major city, traffic flow around the ballpark is smooth and clearly marked. With signage posted beginning over a mile from the venue, it’s not difficult to get to the designated parking areas from multiple points of entry. The main parking lot sits across Rough Riders Trail from the south end of the stadium, while the main gate and ticket windows are at the corner of Rough Riders Trail and Diamond Drive.
Return on Investment 3
A single day at Rider Field for the Frisco Classic provides a full day of high-level collegiate baseball without breaking the bank. Tickets can be purchased for each day or as a tournament pass; a day pass is good for 2 top-level games and costs $20, while the tournament pass price begins at $50. Parking prices are $15 per day, but the facility is within walking distance from multiple hotels in the area, including most of those listed in the Neighborhood section above. High concession prices make the event a little less feasible cost-wise as well, but not outrageously so.
Concession prices are slightly higher than most college games with costs similar to those you would expect to pay at Minor League Double-A and Triple-A games. For example, a souvenir soda costs $9, bottled water $5, and a 16-ounce beer $9.50. Hot dog baskets are $11, burgers cost $15, and most other specialty food items will require between $16 and $20. Don’t forget your debit/credit card though, as Frisco is cashless and only accepts digital or card payments.
Extras 5
Between inning games and contests for prizes are prevalent. Since the tournament is a month before the Frisco RoughRiders begin their season, the tournament is a dress rehearsal for the in-game staff to work on all of their sponsored games and activities, which is a win for the crowd since it gives many a chance to win prizes, as well as makes breaks in play move quickly.
The tournament-winning team usually celebrates by jumping into the lazy river; this unique victory celebration creates a memory and provides photo opportunities not available in most settings.
The staff is also extremely friendly and helpful. The facility has all its employees on the clock and in training for the upcoming season during the Classic, plus as a showcase presentation for PEAK events, there are PEAK personnel spread throughout the ballpark for assistance.
Souvenirs can be acquired for the tournament's participating teams as well as for the Frisco RoughRiders. The Riders store is open for all games, thus allowing baseball memorabilia collectors the opportunity to procure items they desire.
Concessions can be purchased using Stadium Drop – fans are able to scan a QR code, order and pay digitally, and have food delivered to their seats. This is an extremely convenient option. I personally didn’t utilize this option, but can see how the convenience is worth any extra expense or time required for the wait.
Final Thoughts
NCAA Division I baseball has grown in popularity and become a major entertainment option within the past several years. With the NIL era in full force and MLB cutting their draft to only 20 rounds, several top-tier athletes have chosen to play college ball instead of signing professional contracts after high school. The Frisco Classic provides a perfect, early season opportunity to see some top-level players and highly ranked teams compete before the grind of conference schedules begins.
I would suggest making plans to attend the entire tournament in order to see all four teams play one another; this will also allow you to witness most of the lineups in action. Planning ahead with hotel reservations and travel can assist in budgeting. Also, if you are able to get accommodations within walking distance of the field, you will not only save on parking but also be able to take a short break between games if you want.
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